A film Mary Shelley about the love between Percy Bysshe Shelley and young Mary, the future author of Frankenstein will today at 6:30 pm in Lucerna personally introduce one of the actors – Hugh O´Conor. We also offer today an Italian menu together with the film Perfect Strangers – at 7 pm in MONO FONO club.

Cinema Cuisine showings in a special section called Film Flavour. The concept combines film screening with culinary experience. Opt for a three-course meal by Chef Filip Strnad you enjoy films in Prague’s exclusive MONO FONO club. The price of CZK 500 per person includes movie projection, dinner, wine and water.

A film about the love between Percy Bysshe Shelley and young Mary, the future author of Frankenstein, you can see today at 8:30 pm in Světozor cinema in Prague. Passionately rebellious Mary Wollstonecraft finds a kindred spirit in poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The stormy affair explodes into “decent” society which is outraged by their bohemian lifestyle. When tragedy strikes with the death of their newborn child, Mary, who is only eighteen, finds the strength to transform her suffering into the legendary work, Frankenstein… Elle Fanning and Maisie Williams and Hugh O´Conor shine in this all star cast. Hugh O´Conor will personally introduce the movie at next screening in Lucerna on Wednesday, 11th of April at 6:30 pm. Mary Shelley Ireland, United Kingdom, USA, 2017, 120 min., direction Haifaa Al Mansour, English with Czech subtitles On Monday we have a special program for seniors as well – Italian road movie The Leisure Seeker with a lesson about Italian cinema. More HERE. The Leisure Seeker Italy, 2017, 112 min., direction Paolo Virzì, English with English and Czech subtitles

We invite you to the European House (Jungmannova 24, Praha 1) on Wednesday 11. 4. at 7 pm. The screening of the film The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq is for free. Michel Houellebecq is a well-known literary provocateur, cynic and pessimist. For some, his books are mere dross, for others, they are biting satires beating at the discord and nihilism of modern society. In September of 2011, news came out that the author had been kidnapped. By whom and to what end it was not clear. Had the crime been planned, or had the author, himself, chosen to vanish? Even after reappearing, Houellebecq has never given a satisfactory explanation. The Kidnapping of Michel Houellebecq is an original reconstruction of events, a game with audiences and intentional provocation all rolled into one – not unlike his books – starring Michel Houellebecq. An exhibition of festival posters entitled “25 YEARS WITH EUROPEAN FILM” is organized by the European House in Prague as well. If you have a walk along the Jungmannova street from March 7th to April 12th, you can enjoy the bold, funny poster designs inviting to the cinema.

A movie night full of passion which buzzes the blood and satisfies several senses at once. After the screening of the movie „La Chana“ you can enjoy the flamenco show (by Denisa Sofia Pavelová – dance, Morenito de Triana – guitar, vocals), taste the Spanish wine and dance at the wild latino party with DJ Tea Jay Ivo. 7. 4. 2018 7 pm, MONO FONO Praha, CZK 350 The ticket includes the screening of the movie, dance and music flamenco show, party with DJ, wine and water. 7. 4. 2018 9 pm MONO FONO Praha, CZK 250 The ticket includes the dance and music flamenco show, party with DJ, wine and water. La Chana Spain, 2016, 82 min., direction Lucia Stojević, Spanish with English and Czech subtitles The portrait of a woman who became the synonym for Flamenco. Antonia Santiago Amador, alias La Chana, is the manifestation of Flamenco. Though one of the most famous Flamenco dancers, she withdrew from the stage for mysterious reasons while at the height of he career. The power and energy that radiated from her as she danced was breathtaking. And when today La Chana takes to the stage, she still sparkles with energy throughout her performance. This film is about strength

25. DEF – the show of the best contemporary European films has been started on Thursday evening in the Lucerna cinema in Prague by the Polish film Silent Night. Today the film delegation of the Danish film The Man introduce the movie in Kino Pilotů at 5:30 pm. In Lucerna at 6:30 pm you can meet actors of the movie Grandpa more dangerous than computer. From Friday till Sunday you can see our festival films also in Scala Brno.

25. DEF will be launching today by the Polish film Silent Night of young debutant Piotr Domalewski who will arrive at the opening ceremony in Lucerna and then move to Světozor cinema, where he will introduce his picture in person from 8 pm. Last week this bestseller gained 10 prizes at Polish Film Awards 2018 (Orły) – for Best Film, Director, Sound, Screenplay, Cinematography, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Audience Award and a Discovery of Year.

The 25. DEF will start on Thursday 5th April and will host many guests. The young debutant, the award-winning director Piotr Domalewski, arrives on Thursday 5th at the opening ceremony for the film Silent Night to Světozor at 8 pm. Other guests of the 25. DEF: Alise Polačenko and Mārtiņš Vilsons: Grandpa more dangerous than computer – 6th April at 6:30 pm in Lucerna Kristína Hejduková: The Man – 6th April at 5:30 in Kino Pilotů Jiří Lábus: Inscects – 8th April at 7:45pm in Lucerna Tereza Nvotová: Filthy – 10th April at 5:30 in Kino Pilotů Hugh O’Conor: Mary Shelley – 11th April at 6:30pm in Lucerna

On Tuesday 27th March, a press conference of the 25th Days of European Film was held in the Nostic Palace at the Ministry of Culture. This year’s presentation was presented in detail by Andrea Matušáková from the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic, the director of the Polish Institute Maciej Ruczaj, the director of the New Cinema 2018 and 2019 project Petr Vítek and, above all, the dramaturge Zdeněk Blaha. 25. DEF will kick off next Thursday, April 5, by the Polish film Silent Night, which is the exciting debut of young director Piotr Domalewski on one unforgettable Christmas night…

On Sunday the cinema Scala in Brno offers a Spanish film Truman about the power of friendship and helping your neighbor and an Italian drama Sweet Dreams about a son’s relationship to his mother. On Monday you can see an Austrian documentary Safari or a German film The People vs. Fritz Bauer – the story of the man who hunted down Adolf Eichmann and brought him to justice. On Tuesday the festival moves to the echoes of DEF – to Boskovice, Semily, Jablonec nad Nisou and Hodonín.

On Saturday 15. 4. at 7 pm you can enjoy the animated film The Red Turtle with the sweet French menu. The three-course menu will be prepared by Mohammed Saouchi, aka „Momo“, the chef of the French bistro Café 35. FRENCH MENU Salade piemontaise et rocket (Salad piemontaise with arugula) Couscous au poulet (Chicken couscous) Gateau de carottes au caramel (Carrot cake with caramel)

Today you have the last chance to visit the festival DEF in Prague. You can see for example films I, Daniel Blake, After Love, The Survivors or As I Open My Eyes. The special screening of Like Crazy in Kino Royal brings a colorful Italian menu. In Kino Pilotů will director Farid Eslam personally introduce the document Yallah! Underground. On Friday the festival moves to Brno.

On Thursday 13. 4. in the unique enviroment of cinema Royal, the viewers can enjoy a film while indulging in a culinary experience in a so-called pop up restaurant. The menu will reflect a movie topic, territory or environment, and will be accompanied by the film Like Crazy. The price of CZK 500 per person includes a delicious three-course menu, wine, water and wonderful film. The unique experience of cinema cuisine will be brought to you by the Italian chef Alex Facchin. ITALIAN MENU Starter: Italian piadina with three kinds of fillings Main Course: Lasagne with salmon and spinach, Spezzatino veal with potatoes, Gnocchi with tomato sauce and mozzarella Dessert: strawberry pannacotta

Graduation – a drama about compromises, personal morality and the essence of parenthood goes to the Czech cinemas on Thursday, 13. 4. You can see the movie already at the 24 DEF on Thuesday 11. 4. at 8 pm in Prague cinema Světozor.

You can watch the French film Raw two ways, says the film critic Kamil Fila. His video invitation you can find here: Raw je horor, který zvedá žaludek a bránici smíchem zároveň. The very raw horror had its premiere in the Czech Republic last week and you can see it on the 24. DEF too. The screenings are held on Monday 10. 4. 20:45 in Prague cinema Světozor and on Wednesday 12. 4. 20:00 in Prague cinema Kino Pilotů.

On Monday we are looking forward to the new special event of the 24. DEF – the animation workshops. SONG OF THE SEA, Mon 10. 4. 2017 , 9 am, Kino Pilotů, Entry: 60 CZK Director: Tomm Moore | Ireland, 2014 | 93 min. | Czech dabing THE RED TURTLE, mo 10. 4. 2017 1:30pm, Lucerna, Entry: 110 CZK, Discount for seniors: 55 CZK. director: Michaël Dudok de Wit | France, 2016 | 80 minutes | no dialog After the screening follows an animation workshop for adults (and children). Animation is as old as mankind itself. Even prehistoric people tried to paint the walls of their caves, capturing the movement od a mammoth by drawing it with eight feet. How does animation actually work? Can we make our own moving pictures at home? What would we need to do so? All these questions will be answered by experts from training and talent platform Free Cinema.

Premiere of the film The Chronicles of Melanie will today personally introduce his director Viesturs Kairišs together with the Czech producer Juliette Sichel. The film is based on the life of Melānija Vanaga who survived 16 years of exile in Siberia where she was deported by the Soviets in 1941, along with 17 000 other people. The co-production of Latvia, Czech Republic and Finlad will be later in the Czech distribution by Bontonfilm. Saturday, 8.4., 8:30 pm / Lucerna, Big Hall

Don’t miss the film Als Mensch ein Solist joined with a concert by legendary jazz musician Günter Baby Sommer. The price CZK 300 includes the screening about a legendary jazzman G. B. Sommer, his concert, wine and water.

Today at 8 pm in Kino Pilotů you can see the Greek film Chevalier which got many festival prizes. Ticket holders will have the right to participate in a lottery with Greek taste which will take place after the screening!

24. DEF – the show of the best contemporary European films has been started on Thursday evening in the Lucerna cinema in Prague by the Spanish spy thriller Smoke & Mirrors. In the coming days we have a rich program. On Friday, 7. 4. we can see an Italian documentary Five wor(L)ds in Kino Pilotů, at 6 pm personally introduced by the director Giancarlo Soldi. At 8:30 pm the Slovak director Iveta Grófová and the composer Matěj Hlaváč will present the Czech-Slovak film Little Harbour in the Cinema Světozor in Prague. We are looking forward to you! More photos from the opening in Lucerna you can find HERE.

The biggest corruption affair of 90s today in Lucerna cinema The festival will be opened by the Spanish film Smoke & Mirrors by the director Alberto Rodríguez on 6 April. Bribes, star witnesses, secret services and billions in foreign accounts – the largest Spanish corruption scandal of the 1990s and the story of a man who deceived the entire Spain. This suspenseful spy film received a number of awards, including the Silver Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival for the best acting performance in a leading role for Eduard Fernández and the Feroz Zinemaldia Award for the best film. The Goya Award for the best adapted screenplay should also be mentioned. The producer Francisco Javier Ramos Quiñones will arrive to personally present the film at the opening. He produced the successful and acclaimed film El Método by Marcelo Piñeyra and is now preparing a film by Mateo Gila, the author of screenplays for films such as Vanilla Sky, The Sea Inside, Open Your Eyes or Agora.

The press conference of 24. DEF is over The press conference, held on Monday, April 3, 2017 in Nostitz Palace, the Ministry of Culture, presented in detail to all the journalists the news of 24. DEF. Speakers were Julietta Sichel – the producer of the films The Chronicles of Melanie and Ministry of Love, Magdaléna Frouzová – spokesperson of the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic and Zdeněk Blaha – DEF dramaturg, who spoked mainly about the program sections. For the first time we heard the guests’ names of the film festival. The opening film Smoke and Mirrors will be introduced by producer Francisco Javier Ramos Quiñones. It is worth to mention three films made within the Czech minority co-productions. DEF offer the movie The Chronicles of Melanie by screenwriter and director Viesturs Kairiss, who will be together with Czech producer Juliette Sichel one of the guests of the festival. The second film is Ministry of Love directed by Pavo Marinkovic. Together with him actor Slobodan Milovanović and sound engineers Ludvik Bohadlo and Jan Paul visit personally the festival. The third film Little Harbour will be introduced by the director Iveta Grófová and the composer Matěj Hlaváč. The movie won the Crystal Bear on Berlinale, an award by a children jury in the section

Do you think you know a lot about European cinema? You can test your knowledge and win one of 10 trips to Cannes film festival in May 2017. The contest is oraganized by Kreativní Evropa – Media, runs till March 17th and you find all the information about in on this link.

Thursday 14. 4. 2016 / screening for schools at 9am / screening for seniors at 1pm / kino Lucerna A renewed premiere of an Oscar-winning classic by the Italian director Franco Zeffirelli is a part of the celebration of the 400 anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. The unique film from 1968 will have a lecture introduction by the biggest Czech Shakespeareologist and the ultimative translator of his work, Martin Hilský. The screening will be followed by a discussion lead by the experienced film pedagog Pavel Bednařík. He will analyse with the audience all the possibilities, how to interpret this Shakespeare’s adaptation. More details about the film including a trailler could be found here. If you don’t manage for the classic, you can try later for something really up-to-date: film with a three-course-dinner!

Do you like a bite with your film but popcorn isn’t really what you have in mind? Than come to our Film Flavour projections – a fusion of film screening and high-quality food. In the unique enviroment of cinema Royal, you can enjoy a film while indulging in a culinary experience in a so-called pop up restaurant. Number of seats in the hall is limited, therefore, buy your tickets early! (14.4.) 7pm Youth and a colourful Italian menu & The unique experience of cinema cuisine will be brought to you by the Italian restaurant Il Rugantino and the chef Alex Facchin. Italian menu: Antipasto misto italiano (mix of cheese, salami, ham and other typical products) Arrosto di maiale (roast pork neck) or spinach lasagna (we think on vegetarians, too!), baked potatoes Strawberry panna cotta (16.4.) 7pm Populaire and a menu of the sweet France & The three-course- menu will be prepared by Mohammed Saouchi, aka „Momo“, the chef of the French bistro Cafe 35. French menu: Dwith onion confit and figs Pork sauté on muschrooms with baked potato Apple fondant with a red fruit reduction Look for more on our Facebook, where you would be able to win some tickets!

Today, the film Case: Osterberg will be personally introduced by the director Matej Nachtigal and his colleagues Zoran Benčić (author of the screenplay), Tomi Matic (producer), Amir Mureškić (co-producer) and Andrija Zafranović (editing). Large crew arrives at Lucerna for the screening of the film at 8:45. The intertwined noir thriller, depicting the struggle for power, resembels the American series The Wire. The film was based on the book by Zoran Bencic Psi brezčasja and won the Slovenian Film Critics Award for Best Feature Film at the Slovenian FF 2015. Trailer and more info about the movie is here. Photos from the opening of DEF.

{{{The film COURTYARD OF BALLADS today at 6pm in Světozor will be shown in Portuguese version with Czech subtitles only, without English subtitles, as mentioned previously. We are very sorry for the change and thank you for your understanding.}}} DEF opens today at 7pm with a Finnish-Estonian film The Fencer directed by Klaus Haro. At the opening ceremony the film will be personally introduced by its producer Kaarle Aho. Thrilling and powerful story goes back to Estonia in the 50s and follows the story of a young swordsman, Endel Nelis, who flees from Leningrad and seeks refuge in a small Estonian village as a fencing teacher. However, communist secret police is on his trail. The Fencer became the first Finnish film in the nominations for the Golden Globes in 58 years and it won one of the 9 closest nominations for the Academy Award. More about the film is here.

DEF launches tomorrow a Finnish-Estonian film The Fencer directed by Klaus Haro. At the opening ceremony the film will be personally introduced by its producer Kaarle Aho. Thrilling and powerful story goes back to Estonia in the 50s and follows the story of a young swordsman, Endel Nelis, who flees from Leningrad and seeks refuge in a small Estonian village as a fencing teacher. However, communist secret police is on his trail. The Fencer became the first Finnish film in the nominations for the Golden Globes in 58 years and it won one of the 9 closest nominations for the Academy Award. More about the film is here.

On Thursday the 31st of March the 1st press conference took palce in the spaces of the Czech ministry of Culture. Among the speakers were Michaela Mlíčková-Jelínková, the spokeswoman of the Delegation of the European Comission in the Czech Republic, and Ari Tasanen from the Embassy of Finland. The dramaturg of DEF Zdeněk Blaha gave a detailed presentation of the festival program of 45 films – the best of current European film production. More details about our programe could be found here. We are looking forward to seeing you in the cinema!

Dear viewers, we want to thank you very much for your attendance and wish you a pleasant rest of the year. During this year, we are ready to prepare even better a greater 23rd edition of DEF. See you next year in the cinema! Sinceril, your DEF team!

Starting today, the Days of European film move to the cities of Echoes of DEF where they will stay till the 26th of April. Interested in the exact dates? Here you go: Boskovice (Kino Boskovice: 20/4 – 22/4), Hradec Králové (Bio Central: 21/4 – 23/4), Jablonec (Kina Jablonec nad Nisou: 21/4 – 24/4), Plzeň (Měšťanská Beseda: 22/4 – 24/4) and Havířov (Kino Centrum Havířov: 23/4 – 26/4). We sincerily thank to all of you who have come to DEF in Prague and Brno and are looking forward to all of you who are to come to on of our Echoes screenings! Enjoy the film!

Film by Paola Sorrentina in combination with the menu of Italian cheff Alexe Facchin will be served to you already tomorrow in the cinema Royal. The chef of the Pizzeria Fiat prepared for you this menu: Italian canapés roastbeef with mustard souce caprese lasagne bolognese scaloppine with mushroom souce and roasted potatoes tiramisu And on the screen? Oscar winning The Great Beauty. There are only 100 seets in the cinema, please buy your tickets now!

There will be a feast on Thursday again! The great food blogger Koko will prepare this menu from authentic Spanish ingredients: tapas paella with chicken and shrimps Spanish KOKOstew with beens and morilloa And what will be on the screen? Excellent comedy Hasta la vista! There are only 100 seets in the cinema Royal and just few tickets left, please, buy tickets now to secure a place.

The seminar is one of a number of projects, that usualy take place during the Days Of European Film festival and are co-organized by the association ProDigi o.s. (www.digitalnikino.cz), the Days of European Film and Creative Europe – MEDIA Czech Republic. The seminar will present interesting projects of cinema owners, new audience development projects and summarize cinema statistics of 2014. Representatives of the new board of the State Cinematography Fund shall submit the financial plan and time schedule of the Fund and evaluate its performance in the first two years after approval of the new audiovisual law. More information here.

In the cinema of European House will be presented the Portuguese film Bobo in a special screening today at 7pm. The film was chosen in the co-operation with the Delegation of European Commission in the Czech Republic and is a part of the section To The Point, which maps issues highlighted during the European Year for Development 2015. More information here. Entrance is free. For those interested, here is a link to the photogalery from the festival opening on April 9th in cinema Lucerna.

Come and enjoy a three course dinner and a delicious film at the unique space of the Prague cinema Royal on April 11th! What is the menu for the first screening of a the special section Film Flavour prepared by a French chef Mohammed Saouchi „Momo“ from the bistro Cefé 35? Voilá: Mousse de volailles aux amendes Boeuf Bourguignon, pommes au four Poire poché au vin rouge et son yaourt à la cannelle And let’t not forget the beautiful film Mood Indigo. There are just few tickets left, so don’t wait and buy your tickets now.